Testimonials from Online Students

At Liberty University Online, we're confident that we provide our students with a quality, affordable and convenient Christ-centered education.

But we're not the only ones! Find out what our students have to say about their LU Online experiences.

After substitute teaching for three years in the school our children attended, I was offered a full-time teaching position that required me to earn a degree over a three-year period. I was starting out with only six college credits, but with a wealth of knowledge in both education and business that I thought could translate into university credits.

After extensively researching online schools all over North America, I found Liberty University to be the one that would best allow me to turn my experience into college credits. By taking advantage of Liberty’s portfolio program — their I.C.E. exams, CLEP test and DSST test — I have been able to obtain 66 credits toward my degree! This not only saved a considerable amount of time, but was a great cost savings as well.

It has been a real stretch to teach full time, operate my own part-time tax business and pursue my degree all at the same time. There have been times that I wasn’t sure I could make it, but I have had the unconditional support of my husband and family, and Julia Shirkey, of Liberty [who handles transfer evaluations], was a great help throughout this time as well. There have been bumps along the way but, all in all, it has been a great experience. By God’s grace, I will graduate this month with a B.S. in education and a minor in business after only two and a half years.

We are a Liberty family. Our oldest daughter, Annette, graduated in 2009 from Liberty with her master’s in education. Our son, Evan, will graduate this month with his B.S. in aviation and several pilot licenses. Our youngest daughter will graduate in 2013 with a B.S. in visual communication.

Thank you, Liberty, for helping me turn my experience into credit, secure my career and realize a dream.

Renda Elmore
B.S. Education

Choosing to Succeed

Tyrone Sanders, Associates of Arts in General Studies

As a 38-year-old, single father of six children, I have been struggling due to the economy, but I have kept my faith in God; I know He will work it out, and I know He led me here to Liberty University to finish my degree.

Growing up, I was blessed with wonderful Christian parents. After I grew up, my dad's health got bad, and I knew I had to succeed, not only financially, but spiritually, so I could keep the family strong and together. My dad suffered three strokes and two heart attacks, but is still here, filled with life and God's grace.

My struggle led me to write two books that deal with issues such as addiction, gang violence and selfishness, and promote restoration and forgiveness through faith, love, trust and hope.

When I wrote my last book, “Does Family Really Matter?” which deals with family restoration, I was committed to do the work of God. I learned that we succeed in life according to our growth and our ability to seek out our desires in the right environments. For me, Liberty University is exactly where I need to be to become a success and to grow in spirituality and prosperity.

I feel like I am at home at Liberty and look forward to graduating in 2010. In the meantime, I hope and pray that you will read and share my books, and that they will touch hearts and weaken the strongholds of the enemy. Thank you, and God bless.

Tyrone Sanders’ books, “Does Family Really Matter?” and “My Poetry Days” are available at www.lulu.com.

Mentorship Led to Author's Success

Cliff Graham

I am a chaplain candidate in the military, and Liberty University Online has been a phenomenal experience for me while I have pursued my education goals.

The encouragement of the faculty led me to become an author, and the result is my new series of novels based on King David’s Mighty Men, due to be released nationally in the fall. Hollywood has also expressed significant interest in the project. 

I can easily say that it was the mentorship and scholarship I had access to through Liberty that resulted in these novels becoming what they are today.

Cliff Graham
Author, Lion of War
http:///www.lionofwar.com

Master's Opens door for AIDS Orphanage

Tashima Dukes

My name is Tashima Dukes. I am a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in International Business. Having grown up in the foster care system, God has worked tremendously in my life. After Liberty afforded me the opportunity to pursue a quality education in my spare time, I now have my first publication — “Truth Be Told: A Foster Child’s Recollection.” I have also gained the education and experience to open an orphanage in Lagos, Nigeria, home to many children suffering from the AIDS epidemic.
 

From Inspirational Speaker to Compassionate Counselor

Tierra Ward

Liberty University has played a key role in molding me into a compassionate counselor. Liberty’s professional counseling program has begun to transform me from the inside out. As an inspirational speaker I have a passion to show my Christian colors through the words of my testimony. I travel to homeless and domestic violence shelters, as well as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. My audiences listen in amazement as I tell my story of empowerment in the midst of childhood sexual abuse, being labeled as a special education student and forced to live in a domestic violence shelter during my high school years. Audiences recognize these situations could have destroyed me. But today they are my platform from which I encourage and empower individuals. Liberty University Online makes my ministry possible because of its flexibility, foundational curriculum and tools that encourage individual accountability.
This ministry has taught me there are so many women whose decisions, parenting styles and ability to receive love are all affected by the hurt and grudges they harbor in their hearts. My goal and passion is to develop programs that can teach women, both young and old, how to release these hurts. I believe my childhood experiences paired with my Christian-based education are the tools that are equipping me to be a Champion for Christ.

Tierra Ward
Master’s in Professional Counseling

Psychology Grad Overcomes Addiction to Help Others

Donna Fincher

In 2002, I asked God to help me to return to school if it was His will for my life and not just my own will. I had dreams of becoming a counselor
By 2004, I was able to leave my accounting position, homeschool my children and enroll at Liberty University. When searching different colleges online and through references, I found that Liberty had the best degree plan and tuition for me as a potential psychology student. The enrollment and admissions process was so easy due to the professionalism of the staff.
Eleven years ago I was homeless and struggling with a drug addiction. Next month, I will be graduating from Liberty with my psychology degree. Now, that’s a God story! Thanks, Liberty, for being part of God’s will for my life.

Seminary Sharpens Missionary's Skills to Serve as Chaplain

Thomas Houston

I found Liberty while I was on the mission field in Eastern Africa. I had considered every Theological Seminary, but I felt there was something special that I couldn’t describe about Liberty. When I found out that Dr. Caner was the president, I knew LBTS was the place God wanted me to learn. Dr. Caner’s passionate, “take no prisoners” attitude was the type of leadership I could follow in today’s spiritual warfare. 

Now I can say I’m taking classes to sharpen and grow so that my gifts are best utilized when I step into my new mission field in the U.S. Army Chaplaincy. Our Soldiers give us their best, and I know God wants to send His best. That’s why I’m grateful for Liberty’s new M.Div. Chaplaincy program. Other seminaries have chaplaincy concentrations but none seem to be as goal-oriented as this one. It’s great to have a school that doesn’t create ‘hoops’ to jump through just so they can feel good about their students’ progress.

Liberty trusts God with its students and gives them the right tools in the right amounts to reach the world for Christ. Who could ask for more? I’m currently taking online classes while waiting to be attached to a Special Forces Airborne Unit as a chaplain candidate before I continue on as an Army chaplain next May. Thank you, Liberty, for giving me a no-nonsense opportunity to serve God and Country. Praise Jesus, for He has risen! 

2 Lt. Thomas Houston
M.Div., Chaplaincy

Liberty Perfect Fit for Both Spiritual and Educational Growth

Aubrie Jones

I’m an active-duty Air Force captain and have been in the Air Force for almost 16 years. My husband is also active-duty military, and we have three children: 14, 12, and 10, and two foster children, 13 and 12. 

Liberty University has given my husband and me amazing opportunities for education and spiritual growth. Currently in a master’s in counseling internship, I have grown so much closer to God and have been active in growing His family and helping others to find peace and happiness. On evenings and weekends I provide Christian counseling services to the community through the local Presbyterian church. Liberty has encouraged me to take my gifts and my love for children into the community in many ways — Christian counselor, foster mother, children’s church director and in a Transforming Tweens for Christ youth group. I love the Lord and look forward to the day that we all will be in His loving arms. Liberty University is the perfect school for those looking to advance themselves spiritually and educationally.

Letting Go Led Mother of Three Back to School

Teresa Love

Letting go and letting God lead can be such a comfort and such a joy. Had someone told me this time last year that God would make a way for me to learn everything I possibly could about Jesus The Christ, the Bible and His Word, I would have never believed it!

Years ago, I took a philosophy/religion class and really liked it. I wanted to return to school, but life took priority and, for many reasons, I never made the sacrifice.

Now, at 48, with three (almost grown) children, I feel like a newborn. As I study for my bachelor’s degree in Religion I pray that God will use me — my past and my mistakes — to lead others, especially young people, to learn a new way of life.

I know that any success I achieve is not because of me, but because of God! As I continue to let go and let God lead me, I know my joy, my peace, my source comes from Him — the Great I AM!

Perfect Fit

Janice Guthrie, Doctorate of Education, Teaching & Learning

I have been teaching for almost 40 years in Christian schools. I love what I do, and my ministry has been fruitful, both professionally and personally.

During the past several years the Lord has presented opportunities for me to mentor young teachers in my department, work with student teachers and teach adult learners in evening classes. My heart has been turned toward the younger generation of teachers.

I realized that to open doors in this new direction I would need a doctorate in education. Liberty University Online offered a program that suited me perfectly — online classes during my school year and on-campus intensives during the summer — all taught with a clear Christian philosophy of education.

My first online class was exhilarating, and I expected each class thereafter to be the same. I have not been disappointed. At the age of 64, I will be graduating next month.

It has been quite a ride, and I am exhausted! But, would I make the same choice again at my age? You betcha!

Former Mormon Finds Liberty

Joseph Wesley, Bachelor of Science in Religion

I was raised as a Mormon, but when I was 20 years old I was radically saved because of the love I was shown by one individual.

For the past two years I had been living in the world, but when Jesus took me into the palm of his hand I knew I needed to get my life together. I decided to go to school.

I needed to find an affordable school that would strengthen my foundation of Jesus Christ while preparing me in my chosen field. I prayed and God led me to Liberty’s website.

At first I was discouraged because there was no way I could afford to live in Virginia at that moment. Then I saw that Liberty had a distance learning program — and I knew I could afford it! My heart jumped. I continually praise God for taking care of me in a dark hour by showing me the light, or flame, rather, that Liberty holds.  

Chris Mitcheltree, M.Ed program in Teaching and Learning

After completing the non-licensure M.Ed. program in Teaching and Learning through Liberty University Online, Chris Mitcheltree began pursuing Pennsylvania licensure for Supervision of Curriculum and Instruction.

“Because Liberty’s degree plan allowed me choose a lot of my courses, I looked up those required to fill a Curriculum and Instruction degree [in Pennsylvania] and took the Liberty courses most closely related to those. I sent all my coursework and course descriptions to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, took the state Praxis exam — and waited. I finally got that beautiful piece of blue paper with the gold seal in the mail! They are not requiring any additional classes. Liberty did it all!"